Shank iron for shoes



Oct. 8, 1929. A. F. DONOVAN SHANK IRON FOR SHOES Filed Nov. 28, 1927 J2 .agua mi? 7 l ATTORNE BY- 'hib Patented Oct. 8, 1929 PATENT OFFICE ALFRED F. DONOVAN, OF 1305.3'1019',y MASSACHUSETTS SHANK IRON FOR SHOES Application filed November 28, 1927, Serial No. 236,103.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To provide a rigid shank iron for supporting the outside of the tread of the foot with means for permitting a glove-lit at the inner side of the foot; to provide such a shank iron with a rigid and wide spread head for controlling the bend of the shoe on lines perpendicular with the axis ol' the shoe.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a shank iron constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, the outline oit the wearing sole ot the shoe being shown by the thin and shaded line, the inner sole usually disposed on top oit the shank iron having been removed from the saine and from the wearing sole.

Figure 2 is a side edge view of an inner sole,

a wearing sole, and shanlr iron constructed and assembled in accordance with the present invention, the construction beine shown partly in section.

Figure 8 is a schematic view showing in cross section the disposition of shank irons constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention in its relation to the human foot and the shoe structure therefor.

As seen in the drawings, a shank iron having a horizontal llat body 8, has a laterally 3o extended depressed head 9, and a ilattened heel plate 10. The shank iron is constructed of relatively thin metal, and to reinforce and render rigid, the saine, a ridge or rib 11 is formed, said rib being substantially coincident with the axis of the foot and of the wearing sole 12 ot the shoe. The rib 11 be ing thus disposed and constructed, prevents the shank iron from bending from the said curve with which it is provided` Asseen best in Figure 2 of the drawings, the head 9 is flared laterally to brace the wearing sole 12 and to impart thereto a bending moment which shall be perpendicular to the axis and to the rib 11. The moment referred '.5 to corresponds with the forward edge 13 of the head 9. rlhe head 9 is anchored to the insole 14 of the shoe by means of spurs 15.

This anchorage establishes and maintains the relation between the shank iron and the in 1 sole 14.

The heel plate 10 as shown in the drawings is extended further than heel plates of the ordinary shank iron so that it functions later in the process of shoe construction as means for turning or clinching the nails which are driven through the wearing sole and heel that is added thereto.

lV hen employing a shank cut away at the inside oi the shoe as shown best in Figure 1 of the drawings, the leather constituting the upper of the shoe as well as the insole and wearing sole, may be drawn and pressed upon the last to lill the hollow in the last at the inner side thereof. When the molded and stretched soles and upper are set in the process of manufacture, it will be found that there has been imparted to the shoe what is styled a glove-tit, and in other words, the leather hugs the inner side or' the foot under the instep thereoi'. A comfortable support is thus imparted to the fleshy part or' the foot under the instep, while the longitudinal arch ot' the toot is preserved by the body 8 and the reinforcing ribs 11.

The head 9 serves as a receptacle or platform upon which rests a metatarsal arch supporting pad 16, as can be seen best in Figure 2 of the drawings. Spurs 15 engage the pads 16 retaining it lirinly in position. The forward edge of the pad 1G is carried beyond theedge 13 of the head 9, the 'leather from which the pad is usually formed being skived to a feather-edge. Any abrupt ridge that could be felt is thus avoided. At the same time the `lleXibility of the forward edge of the pad 16 permits the soles 12 and y14C to bend on the line established by the edge 18, at the forward end ol' the head 9.

I claim 1. A .shank iron for shoes comprising a substantially transversely horizontal body portion for disposal in service under the outer side of a shoe; a head ollsetfrom said bodv portion and laterally extended for disposal in service below the ball of the foot; a heel plate laterally extended beyond said body for disposal in service below the heel of the foot; and a reinforcing rib extending between said heel plate and said head, said rib being ormed from the edge of said body portion adjacent the inner side of the shoe, and on Substantially the axial line of the shoe.

2. A Shank iron as characterized having :L longitudinal arched body, said body portion having at one edge thereof, a relatively hea-Vy reinforcing rib, said rib adapted to be disposed in service on a line substantiallyl coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

8. A shank iron als characterized having a longitudinal arched body, said body portion having at one edge thereof, a relatively hea-Vy reinforcing rib, said rib adapted to be disposed in service on a line substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis or" the shoe; and o head odset from Said body and Yconnected with Seid rib Said head being "for- Wardly flared and hzwing e straight forward edge, said edge being substantially perpendicular to seid rib 'for controlling the Walking flexure of the shoe in which theshanl; is incorporated.

ALFRED l?. BONOVN. 

